I held a number of situation assessments this past day and now
I concluded a tour and evaluations at an Iron Dome battery which
intercepted overnight the rockets which were fired from Gaza.
IDF soldiers here and around the country, on land, air and sea,
are prepared for their watch to protect the citizens of Israel during
the Passover Seder, the entirety of the Passover Holiday,
and each and every day. We all recognize their work
and appreciate them and I want to say in the clearest of terms to our
enemies: “We will strike each and every one who attempts to harm us.
We will exact a heavy price that will make them regret every
action which they try to do for the purpose of harming Israeli
citizens or IDF soldiers.
We face a challenging period, both internal and external.
From the beginning of the year, we conclude a quarterly period in
which we foiled over, what we call ‘significant attacks’, above 200
significant attacks, 150 of which could have been executed by
firearms, roughly 20 by IEDs, others suicide bombings
or ramming attacks. We also absorbed 15 very
painful losses, also to their families and us as well.
Ultimately, you reach everyone (terrorists).
This is a great achievement because whoever comes
to harm us, needs to know that he will pay the price.
I would like to express my appreciation, to you Chief-of-Staff,
personally, and to the entire chain of command, to all the soldiers,
for your incredible, relentless daily effort for the security of Israel.
This effort is mostly, but not entirely, not familiar to the public, but it is
familiar to me and I know how much it serves the security and every
citizen in the State of Israel and our country as well,
and for that you have our gratitude, our sincere and deep gratitude,
and also for your commitment to the security of Israel.
If we do not prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons,
we will be in a different reality in which the entire world will be
hostage to those who have inscribed on their flag their desire
to destroy us; therefore, this is our supreme mission.